Ultrasonic cleaning attachment



May 11, 1965 ummsomc CLEANING ATTACHMENT Fiied March a, 1964 2 Sheets-$heet 1 INVENTOR 74F040 E. #427354 1., BY I i 'H. E. HARTSELL 3,182,668

May 11, 1965 H. E. HARTSELL 1 3,182,663

4 ULTRASONIC CLEANING ATTACHMENT F'i led March 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 194E010 1 HAEZSZEZL,

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United States Patent 3,182,668 ULTRASONIC CLEANING ATTACHMENT Harold E. Hartsell, 342 Washington Ave., Oil fiity, Pa. Filed Mar. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 349,839 Claims. (Cl. 134-77) This invention relates to a novel attachment for cleaning and drying watches, instruments, and jewelry, and other small parts, immersed in solutions in conjunction with an ultrasonic wave producing machine, without the application of heat.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a more eflicient, more economical, and more easily used device of the kind indicated, which involves a conventional fluid-filled ultrasonic cleaning tank and an accompanying ultrasonic wave generator, and an improved parts-carrying unit, adapted to be laid upon and across the tank, which unit comprises a plurality of circumferen tially spaced stationary cups immersed in the solution of the tank, the cups severally containing cleaning, rinsing, and drying solutions, and a basket assembly which involves a parts basket which is adapted to be rotated, to each of the cups and successively depressed and immersed therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a unit of the character indicated above, of solid, rather than reticulated solution cups, which more effectively and eificiently conduct the ultrasonic vibrations present in the tank liquid, to the solution and the parts present in the parts basket.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a unit of the character indicated above of a basket having wire mesh sides, and a solid bottom, whereby ultrasonic waves are carried through the bottom of the cup, then through the bottom of the basket, and through the basket and the parts therein, the solid bottom of the basket serving to better transmit sound waves present.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a unit of the character indicated above, which is of simple and uncomplex construction, and hence capable of being manufactured in well-finished and rugged form, at relatively low cost.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character described above, which eliminates the use of heat for drying, which tends to leave dried spots of solution on the parts cleaned, and which eliminates the use of hair spring cleaners, by use of chemical drying process.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described above, wherein in cleaning watch and instrument jewel bearings, the parts can be placed loosely in the basket; without pegging of jewel bearings as heretofore required.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following descrip tion and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional ultrasonic generator supported in operative relation to a conventional ultrasonic fluid contain-ing cleaning tank, and having a unit of the present invention mounted upon the tank;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of said unit;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing, in full 7 FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts basket carrier, the parts basket, a tray for the basket, and a solution cup.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, and first t-o FIGURE 1 thereof, a rectangular ultrasonic tank T is shown, containing fluid F, a conventional ultrasonic generator G, in operative relation to the fluid F, and a unit 10- supported on and across the tank T, in accordance with the present invention.

The unit 10 comprises a rectangular base plate 12, slightly larger in area than the open top of the tank T, which rests upon the upper edge of the tank, and has a pendant peripheral flange 14, which bears against the laterally outward side of the tank. The base plate 12 is formed, at equally circumferentially spaced points, with circular openings 16, here shown as being four in number, in which removable imperforate metal solution cups, preferably of stainless steel, are removably and supportably engaged. The solution cups are of similar construction, and comprise a cleaning solution cup 18, two rinsing solu tion cups 18a, and a drying solution cup 1811.

Each solution cup, as shown in FIGURE 3, has an open upper end 20, larger in diameter than the openings 16, an inwardly and downwardly angled sidewall 22, and a flat horizontal bottom wall 24. The cups are substantially larger in diameter and height than a parts basket 26 adapted to be immersed in solution S present in the cups,

to substantially the level of the base plate 12, as shown in FIGURE 3.

The parts basket 26 is circular in cross section and has a downwardly and inwardly angled sidewall 28, and a conical upstanding imperforate bottom wall 30. The wall 28 is made of metal mesh. The upper edge of the basket sidewall 28 is flared, as indicated at 32, and is supportably engaged with the inwardly and downwardly angled bottom 34 of an internal annular groove 36, formed in an internal annular lower rib 38, located adjacent to the lower edge of a relatively rigid, heavy-gauge and relatively deep ring 40. A retaining ring 41 engages the flared upper end of the basket sidewall and secures the same in the groove 36.

The ring has an internal upper rib 42, spaced above the lower rib 38, which is relatively shallow, and which, with the lower rib 38, defines an upper groove 42, which is spaced downwardly from the upper edge 44 of the ring 40. The ring 41 has, as shown in FIGURE 5, pairs of rounded radially inwardly extending apertured lugs 46 on its spaced ends. The ring 40 has circumferentially spaced, radially inwardly extending retaining pins 48, spaced above the upper rib 42. A removable shallow perforated small parts tray 49, smaller in diameter than the ring 49 and the upper end of the basket 26, has, at its upper edge, a lateral annular flange 50, which rests upon the top of the upper rib 42, the flange 50 having notches 51 to pass the pins 48.

A basket carrier 52 comprises a rigid horizontal circular disc 54 having a peripheral edge 56, which fits closely and removably within the ring 40, which peripheral edge is formed with notches 58, located to receive and pass below the pins 48 of the ring 40 to rest upon the flange 50 of the small parts tray 49. The carrier disc 54 and the ring 40 are assembled and disassembled, by rotating them relative to each other in an obvious manner.

An upstanding perpendicular, vertically elongated, cylindrical rod has its lowerend suitably circular within a centered hollow boss 62, on the upper side of the carrier disc 54, which extends slidably and rotatably up through an enlarged diameter vertical cylindrical bore 64, at the outer end of a horizontally elongated, relatively heavy gauge rigid arm 66, which has a weight-reducing transverse bore 68 extending therethrough intermediate the bore 64, and a rectangular vertical bore 70, located ad- 7 Z3 jacent to the inner end of the arm 66. A knurled set screw 72 is threaded through the outer end of the arm to the bore 64, for locking the rod 66 in vertically adjusted position, relative to the arm 66.

An upstanding perpendicular handle rod 74, has its lower end threaded into the top of the arm 66, as indicated at 76, at a point adjacent to the rectangular vertical bore 70, and has a knob 7 8, on its upper end, adapted to be used for elevating and depressing the arm 66, and hence the basket 26, and for rotating the basket to positions to enter selected ones of the solution cups.

An upstanding perpendicular, preferably solid, rectangular post 80, on which the rectangular bore 68 of the arm 66 slides, is supported non-rotatably upon the upper surface of the base plate 12, at the center of the base plate. The post 30 has a flat lower end 82, which bears upon the upper surface of the baseplate, which is provided with a threaded axial socket 84, into which a stud 86, extending through hole 88, provided in the base plate 12, is threaded. Lateral stop pins 90, project from the lower part of the post 8%, for limiting downward movement of the arm 66, to a level spaced above the solution cups. The arm 66 is prevented from being moved off the upper end of the post 80, by a washer 92, larger in diameter than the post, which is held down in place, by a screw 94, threaded, as indicated at 96, into the upper end of the post. The post 80 has a cylindrical upper end portion 97.

In operation, the rinsing solution cups 18a, the drying solution cup 18b and the cleaning cup 18, having been filled to the co rect levels, with rinsing fluid, drying fluid,

and cleaning fluid, respectively, and the basket 26 'and/ or the tray 49 having parts and/ or assemblies place-d therein, with the basket carrier 52 secured by means of the set screw 72, in an elevated position, and with the basket 26 elevated out of and vertically aligned with the cleaning solution cup 18, the handle rod '74 is grasped in one hand and the other hand used to loosen the set screw 72, and the basket 26 allowed to subside into the solution within the cup, to the desired level. The set screw 72 is then retightened, and the generator G turned on. This produces ultrasonic vibration in the fluid F in the tank T, which impinges upon the walls of and is transmitted through the walls of the cup 18 to the cleaning solution therein, whereby the parts and solution within the basket and/ or tray and in contact with the parts, are vibrated and thereby thoroughly cleaned. It has been definitely ascertained that the impe-rforate character of the walls of thesolution cups produces more effective transmission of ultrasonic vibrations to the solution therein than cups having partial or wholly perforated walls.

When cleaning of the parts has been effected in the cleaning solution cup 18, the basket 26 is elevated therefrom, in the mannerdescribed hereinabove, and transferred to and immersed .in the rinsing solution of one or both of the cups 18a, by elevating and rotating the arm 66 on the cylindrical upper portion 97 of the post 8%. As soon as the basket is registered with the desired succeeding cup, the arm 66 is restored to the rectangular part of the post 80. The same operations are repeated for putting the basket 26 in the final drying solution cup 18b.

Although there has been shown and described a preterred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within'the scope of the invention as de fined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an ultrasonic cleaning ma-,

base plate being formed with a plurality of, opening means disposed in surrounding relation about a vertical aXi-s;

(b) cleaning solution containing cup means supported in each of said opening means and immersed in the fluid in the tank;

(c) a perforated parts basket smaller in diameter than the cup, and adapted to be immersed in the solution in one of the cu p means; and

(d means mounted upon the base plate for supporting the basket within said cup means and for elevating and depressing the basket relative to the cup means and for rotating the basket to a position in registry with respect to a selected one of said cup means.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the means (d) embodies a post rising from said vertical axis, a rod supporting the basket, and an arm fixedly attached to said rod and mounted on said post for rotation therearound to a position in which the basket is in registry with respect to a selected one of said cup means and for elevating and depressing the basket relative to the selected one of said cup means.

3. The combination with an ultrasonic cleaning machine having a fluid-containing tank and an ultrasonic generator in vibrative relation to the fluid in the tank of:

(a) a base plate resting upon and closing the tank, said base plate being formed with an opening means;

(b) cleaning solution containing cup means supported in said opening means and immersed in the fluid in the tank;

(c) a perforated parts basket smaller in diameter than the cup, and adapted to be immersed in the solution in the cup; and

(d) means mounted upon the base plate forsupporting the basket Within the cup and for elevating and depressing the basket relative to the cup, said basket (c) having an open top surrounded by an upstanding ring having an internal annular rib, and circumferentially spaced internal radial pins spaced above the rib, and said means (d) comprising a carrier disc adapted to removably engage in the ring and rest upon the rib, said disc having a peripheral edge formed with notches adapted to pass the pins onto the upper surface of the disc when the disc is rotated relative to the ring, av carrier rod rising centrally from and fixed to the disc, a post fixed to and rising from the base plate later-ally inwardly from the cup, a horizontal arm having a first vertical bore at its outer end receiving the carrier rod, means for retaining the carrier rod in first vertical bore in vertically adjusted positions thereof, said arm having a second vertical bore at its inner end receiving the post, and stop means on the lower part of the post for limiting depression of the arm and of the basket.

4. The combination with an ultrasonic cleaning machine having -a fluid-containing'tank and an ultrasonic generator in vibrative relation to the fluid in the tank of:

(a) a base plate resting upon and closing the tank,

said base plate being formed with opening means;

(b) cleaning solution containing cup means supported in said opening means and immersed in the fluid in the tank;

(0) a perforated parts basket smaller in diameter than the cup, and adapted to be immersed in the solution in the cup; and

(d) means mounted upon the base plate for supporting the basket Within the cup and for elevating and depressing the basket relative to the cup, said basket (c) having an open top surrounded by an upstanding ring'having an internal annular rib, and circumferentially spaced internal radial pins spaced above the rib, and said means (d) comprising a carrier disc adapted to removably engage in the ring and rest upon the rib, said disc having a peripheral edge formed with notches adapted to pas the pins onto the upper surface of the disc when the disc is rotated 7 relative to the ring, a carrier rod rising centrally from and fixed to the disc, a post fixed to and rising from the base plate laterally inwardly from the cup, a horizontal arm having a firs-t vertical bore at its outer 6 adapted to removably engage in the ring and rest upon the rib, said disc having a peripheral edge formed with notches adapted to pass the pins onto the upper surface of the disc when the disc is rotated end receiving the carrier rod, means for retaining the 5 relative to the ring, a carrier rod rising centrally carrier rod in said first vertical bore in vertically adfrom and fixed to the disc, a post fixed to and rising justed positions thereof, said arm having a second from the base plate laterally inwardly from the cups, vertical bore at its inner end receiving the post, and a horizontal arm having a first vertical bore at its stop means on the lower part of the post for limiting outer end receiving the carrier rod, means for retaindepression of the arm and of the basket, said opening 10 ing the carrier rod in first vertical bore in vertically means comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjusted positions thereof, said arm having a second spaced openings in the base plate, said cup means vertical bore at its inner end receiving the post, and comprising a cleaning fluid-containing cup, at rinsing stop means on the lower part of the post for limiting fluid containing cup, and a drying solution-containing depression of the arm and of the basket, said open- ,cup, h d b \()f th arm being polygonal, ing means comprising a plurality of circumferensaid post having a polygonal lower portion on which tifllly spaced openings in the base pla e, aid cup the polygonal bore is adapted to conformably and ea s comprising a cleaning fluid-containing cup, a slidably engage in a depressed position of the arm, rinsing fluid-containing cup, and a drying solutionsaid post having a cylindrical upper portion on which containing p, the second bore of the am being the polygonal bore is adapted to rotatably engage p yg d P having a polygonal lower porin an elevated position of the arm for positioning the n on which the polygonal bore is adapted to b ket i li ith any of th cups, formably and slidably engage in a depressed position 5. The combination With an ultrasonic cleaning ma- 0f Said P having a cylindrical upper n chine having a fluid-containing tank and an ultrasonic Portion 011 which the polygonal bore is adaptfid t0 generator in vibrative relation to the fluid in the tank of: fota'tably engage in an elevated POSitiOIl 0f the arm (a) a base plate resting upon and closing the tank, said for Positioning basket line with y Of 316 CUPS, base plate being fo d ith opening means; the sides of the polygonal lower portion of the post I (b) cleaning solution containing cup means supported being in facing relationship the Several P for in Said opening means and immersed in {he fl id i looking the arm in line therewith in a depressed posithe tank; 3O tlOll 0f the arm.

(c) a perforated parts basket smaller in diameter than the cup, and adapted to be immersed in the solution in the cup; and

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS (d) means mounted upon the base plate for support 2,348,631 5/44 Keehnel 134-77 X ing the basket within the cup and for elevating and 2,416,475 2/47 Friedman 13476 X depressing the basket relative to the cup, said basket 2,828,231 3/58 Henry 134-1 (c) having an open top surrounded by an upstand- 3,055,032 a 9/62 De Buse 13477 X ing ring having an internal annular rib, and circumferentially spaced internal radial pins spaced above the rib, and said means (d) comprising a carrier disc CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. G. I. NORTH, Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION WITH AN ULTRASONIC CLEANING MACHINE HAVING A FLUID-CONTAINING TANK AND AN ULTRASONIC GENERATOR IN VIBRATIVE RELATION TO THE FLUID IN THE TANK OF: (A) A BASE PLATE RESINT UPON AND CLOSING THE TANK, SAID BASE PLATE BEING FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF OPENING MEANS DISPOSED IN SURROUNDING RELATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS; 